These 2 Literacy Apps Work TOGETHER to Help ADHD & Dyslexic Readers Succeed!

With these 2 desktop apps in your tech toolbox, you'll be ready to support even more challenged readers!

Children and adults who struggle to read, especially individuals with ADHD and dyslexia, have many more options available to them today than they did only a few years ago. Now, there are many assistive technologies possible that were not even dreamed about a decade ago. Today, both higher-level tech resources and low-tech tools can offer much help for unfocused or otherwise challenged readers.

Some of these technologies can even be combined in order to better help the estimated 1 in 5 persons in the U.S. challenged with dyslexia or the 8 to 13% (depending on the state) of school-aged children in our country who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorders (ADHD). These individuals can find it particularly difficult to focus, track, concentrate, comprehend and retain information when reading, especially for extended periods or when many pages of digital text must be read at a time.

One of the most popular and easily recognizable technologies to help these challenged readers is Amazon's Kindle, the well-known e-reader launched in late 2007 that has been most disruptive to the publishing world. The Kindle technology enables readers to eliminate glare with a unique screen, diminish the starkness of white page backgrounds behind dark, virtual text, manipulate font or text sizes and more to assist persons with various reading issues.

Turn Your Computer into a Kindle with This App from Amazon!

If this upfront cost is prohibitive, readers should seriously consider downloading the FREE Kindle app to your desktop or laptop, whether it is a Mac or Windows PC (the app is also available for other tech devices as well via the same web page). It costs nothing to turn one's computer into a virtual Kindle and then immediately allows the individual to purchase e-books from Amazon.com for download directly to your computer. Kindle app download link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page/

For challenged readers who often struggle with focus and attention, tracking, comprehension and retention, it would be hard to beat the combination of the Kindleapp AND an innovative application called the Reading Focus Cards desktop app (Patent 8,360,779) for Macs and Windows PC's. If you know a challenged student or other struggling reader with ADHD or dyslexia, this 2-app combination can enable that individual to experience more comfortably focused, sustained and successful reading of e-books or other digital media.

When in use, the virtual Reading Focus Card actually floats on top AND stays on top of e-book pages or any underlying application to more easily read a web page, Word or PDF document, Excel spreadsheet, e-book or other digital media.

If readers become overwhelmed with too much text on a digital page of an e-book, the Reading Focus Cards app directs the eye to what needs to be read WHILE covering as much or as little of the surrounding text as selected by the reader. Nearly an entire digital e-book page can be covered to improve focus on the text line needing attention. Reading Focus Cards desktop app download links: Mac version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12Windows PC version: https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards

– Easily move the virtual Reading Focus Card over an underlying e-book or other application on the screen with a touchpad, mouse, arrow keys or even with your fingers, where touch technology is applicable.

– With this app's pop-up Toolbox, independently customize the color, level of transparency, height, width and orientation of both the virtual Reading Window and Reading Card, respectively, to provide more reading comfort to focus and block out distractions, keeping you focused on the text you need to read.

– Adjust the virtual Reading Focus Card to accommodate very large fonts or extensive paragraphs, if you choose!

– Never worry about the virtual Reading Focus Card disappearing from the screen unexpectedly, even when using it with the Kindle app or other underlying programs! It floats on top AND stays on top of your computer screen, so you can scroll through e-book pages as well as read documents without interruption. You decide when to close the application.

Special Note: Currently, mobile devices are unable to successfully support this unique, overlay-type Reading Focus Cards app that stays on top of and moves independently of the underlying media applications.

Now, readers of any age and ability can improve their focus to read e-books as well as other digital media in greater comfort and with much more reading success. It is now possible with the combination of these 2 great apps, the Kindle app for Macs and Windows PC's AND the Reading Focus Cardsdesktop app.

As we come to the end of the month of October, LD Awareness Month is also drawing to a close. We all know, however, that the awareness raised for special needs and learning challenges this past month cannot remain static. We need to continue to be advocates for those who are unable to advocate for themselves and help teach those who are able the strategies that can enable their voices and needs to be heard---and addressed effectively.

At the same time, we want to ensure that the helpful resources, techniques and tools already available can be utilized in the most effective ways. That is the reason for this article. We want to demonstrate that the Reading Focus Cards you may already have can be used in variety of other ways as well. Since diagrams and photos are important means of teaching visual learners, we have decided to present most of this information in that format. We hope you will find a few more options here for using BOTH sizes of your Reading Focus Cards.

Other Options for Using the Reading Focus Cards(Patent 7,565,759)

Use with e-Readers (i.e., Kindles, Nooks, etc.)

Use the SHORTER size of the Reading Focus Card (Model #001),
moving it straight down the the screen of the device.

Special Note:Please use a protective film for all tech device screens with this application.

Use with e-Tablets (i.e., iPads, Androids, etc.)

Use the LONGER size of the Reading Focus Card (Model #002),
moving it straight down the the screen of the device.

Special Note:Please use a protective film for all tech device screens with this application.

Choose the BEST Option for YOUR Focus & Reading Success!

For larger font sizes, one line of text can be read through the Reading Window.

When font sizes are smaller, it can be possible to view more than one
line of text in the Readng Window.

If a reader prefers NO colored Reading Filter, the area of the
Reading Focus Card that precedes the Reading Notch can be
another option for reading text lines from left to right.

This application is also quite helpful for breaking down words into phonemes or syllables. Just uncover (from left to right) the letters, phonemes or syllables needed at a time. This application can be especially helpful for readers with dyslexia, ELL/ESL students or new, young readers in word-attack skill building activities.

Another Option for More Focus & Reading Comfort

For readers who prefer NO colored Reading Filter but desire text already read to be visible and text not yet read to be covered, simplyturn the Reading Focus Card 180 degrees from its horizontal position to access a LONG, unframed section of text.

Use the Reading Focus Cards with Math Applications, too!

For long addition, multiplication and division, the SHORTER Reading FocusCardcan help increase focus on the needed place holder column and improve accuracy with problem solving.

Some readers may choose to use both sizes of the Reading Focus Card when working with math and science equations (tool size determined by equation length).

The Reading Focus Cards Are IDEAL Tools for Tests & Exams

For bubble-type test answer sheets (such as Scantron, etc. and where permitted), the Reading Focus Cards allow the reader to locate AND retain the appropriate line of bubbles for a specific test question. Using the tools in this application can actually help increase the participant's focus, rate and test accuracy,

Special Note: Many states in the U.S. currently allow the use of tools such as these on annual state achievement tests (usually for students with IEPs or 504 Plans only). However, there may be conditions required for this permission. Please check with DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in your particular state.

Craft & Household Uses for the Reading Focus Cards

Special Note: For the following use options, simply turn the Reading Focus Card over or upside-down so that the gripping side of the tool faces the page of text. This will keep the reading tool in place until the reader is ready to move it to other text.

It's easy to lose one's place when working with a crochet, knitting and other craft or hobby patterns. However, with the Reading Focus Cards, your favorite activities become so much easier AND more enjoyable, too!

The Reading Focus Cards can also help in the kitchen. When reading recipes, you won't add an ingredient more than once if you retain your place in the ingredient list with this tool (usually the SHORTER tool).

It is Back-to-School Season! As the new school year approaches, many parents of children with ADHD can become more than a little anxious. The relaxed days of summer offered a welcome respite from the prodding to complete homework assignments, the scheduling of school activities and the daily challenges of ADHD. Now with the pending return to school, it is easy to see that these parents and their children are reluctant to leave behind those lazy, hazy days if summer.

We can help you, your child or teen manage some of these challenges, however. Because our Reading Focus Cardswork well with e-readers (shorter size) and e-tablets (longer size), we continue to receive quite a number of requests for lists of apps to help students of all ages with many of these ADHD challenges. In fact, there are currently a significant number of apps available that can help "tame the ADHD tiger" or at least manage some of the issues and symptoms often experienced with this disorder.

Organizational skills are usually at the top of the list of issues, as these skills can frequently impact many of the other ADHD issues. For example, if a student's study area is always in a state of chaos, it is often very difficult to find homework assignments, class notes and even text books or other learning materials.

For this reason, we have gathered together here a few apps to assist you (or someone you care about) with these organizational challenges. We hope you will find that these app resources will help start your new school year on the right foot. Have a GREAT school year, everyone!

Things (for Mac, iPhone & iPad) ($9.99)
This is a task-management tool that's easy to use, yet has all the power when you need it. Projects, tags, repeat tasks – will all be at your fingertips. No matter what device you're on, Things Cloud keeps your to-dos updated across them all - automatically.http://culturedcode.com/

14 BEST iPhone/iPad & Android Apps for People w/ ADHD
ADHD is challenging, especially in this age of instant gratification, constant distraction and the need for everything at our finger tips. Even persons without ADHD find the world a distracting place. This collection of organizational apps for various tech devices can help make life easier for everyone, especially individuals with ADHD.http://www.mindhow.com/best-iphone-ipad-android-apps-for-people-with-adhd/